On June 16, as long as weather cooperates, runners could outnumber the residents in many of the towns along the North Shore during the 36th annual Grandma’s Marathon. The Two Harbors to Duluth marathon caters to some of the fastest runners in the world, offering an elite and larger-than-life experience. Everything about the race is big — runners follow the shores of the world’s largest freshwater lake en masse while crowds cheer along the way, before crossing a finish line where thousands more celebrate and stroll Duluth’s popular Canal Park.

But biggest isn’t always best, depending on your running style. Throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, smaller races dot the countryside, showcasing rails-to-trails programs, rural towns, tough terrain and a sense of community pride. These races give weekend warriors a reason to lace up their shoes and see what lies beyond big-city races.

LAKE WOBEGON

Garrison Keillor put Lake Wobegon on the map for radio listeners across the country. For runners, it’s the St. Cloud Runners Group that has given Lake Wobegon a name for itself. The Lake Wobegon Marathon started in 2008 after the local running club saw a need for a marathon in rural Minnesota.

“We wanted a run put together by runners for runners,” said race director Sharon Hobbs. “We’re not a company or doing this as a fundraiser. We’re doing this because we love to run.”

Using a rails-to-trails course, the full marathon starts in Holdingford and ends in St. Joseph. The 26.2-mile course offers few spectators but a lot of natural beauty.

“It is the best of rural Minnesota,” Hobbs says. “A blend of little towns with their churches and grain elevators — livestock, lakes, plenty of wildlife and rolling fields. It is just that peaceful scenery Minnesota is known for.”

The generally flat trail is conducive to allowing runners to produce their personal best time. The full marathon takes place the second weekend in May and maxes out at 350 participants.

Hobbs said keeping it small ensures a high-quality experience in addition to scenic views. “The smallness of this race makes us unique,” Hobbs explains. “We don’t want to be a big-city race.”

DOOR COUNTY

Another small-town race to take note of next year is the Door County Half-Marathon. The race — an economic driver for the shoulder season of this tourist destination — attracts more than 2,000 racers for a 13.1-mile and 5K races in early May.

Publicity director Myles Dannhausen said being a destination helps bring in the crowds, and the scenic course never disappoints.

“The race winds through Peninsula State Park,” Dannhausen said. “It is the most beautiful venue in Door County for this type of event.” Given that it is prior to peak tourist season, the park also is willing to shut down roads for a few hours, giving runners access to one of Door County’s scenic gems.

“Runners go through the woods, climb hills that end with incredible views of bluffs and water, race by historical markers and end by the shores of Lake Superior,” Dannhausen said.

The incredible views do result in several challenging hills that new runners — and lax trainers — occasionally curse, but the view at the end softens the pain.

The first race in 2008 drew 581 runners. Today, that number has swelled to more than 2,000. In addition to the traditional half-marathon, organizers also are working out ways for the race to support local charities. Each year, a certain number of slots are designated for community members who run to raise money for local charities. This year, runners raised more than $13,000 for Door County charities.

VOYAGEUR TRAIL

If you like a challenge but want a bigger-city destination without the crowds, a mid- summer Duluth trail race delivers. The Half Voyageur Trail Marathon is a favorite for Duluth runner and Minnesota State Sen. Roger Reinert.

“What’s not to like about trail running?” Reinert said. “You get to be outdoors on interesting terrain that’s not only physically challenging but mentally interesting as well. The hills, balance and footwork are a great way to build strength and endurance for road races.

“What I love most about a race like the Half Voyaguer is that it’s a race run by runners for runners. It’s not a glamorous high-profile event with thousands of runners. People are there and participating because they really just love to be outside running.”

The full marathon is scheduled in the height and heat of summer, making it a challenging and rewarding race. This year’s race is set for Saturday.

BIRKIE TRAIL TREK AND RUN

Keeping with the thrills of hills, a fall trail race near Hayward, Wis., showcases fall colors and provides a serious challenge. The 10th Annual Birkie Trail Trek and Run is a full and a half-marathon along the Birkebeiner Ski Trail. This year’s race is set for Sept. 21.

The course, known for its hills, draws trail runners from all over, including Stillwater’s Tara Graff. Graff makes the drive up north because she loves the tough course.

“It’s a beautiful, wooded race — the Birkie Trail is just as gorgeous in fall as it is in winter,” she says. “And for a run, the trail is just as crazy challenging: hills, hills and more hills. Even though there are downhills, too, you feel like you’re gaining some serious altitude. You reach the top of yet another hill, and you swear you’re going to see K2 in the distance. Crossing the finish line is a big accomplishment.”

At least, the race is scheduled during the fall, when cooler temperatures make tackling the constant rolling hills of North Woods Wisconsin a little easier. Waiting for fall also provides an opportunity to enjoy the scenic woods and waters sans flies. This trail primarily is grass that can make for uneven terrain and unexpected challenges. However, framed against the blazing orange and reds of fall, this is easily forgiven.

THE WHISTLESTOP

Closing out the running season is a rails-to-trails course that gives weekend warriors and Boston Marathon hopefuls one last chance to make their mark. The Whistlestop is a full and a half-marathon on the second weekend in October in northern Wisconsin that brings in about 2,400 runners to run a packed trail. This year’s race is set for Oct.13.

Ashland Chamber of Commerce executive director Mary McPhetridge said that putting on a race this size in rural Wisconsin showcases what small communities can do when they work together.

“It takes over 500 volunteers to pull this together, and each year we’re blown away by all of the locals who go above and beyond to make this event happen,” McPhetridge said.

Part of this includes pre- and post-race festivities that highlight northern Wisconsin.

Perhaps most notable is a spaghetti feed paired with a Lake Superior whitefish boil. After the race, the popular Blues and Brews fest features Wisconsin microbrews, including the popular South Shore Brews.

The course, which serves as a ATV and snowmobile trail system, has a slight downgrade and is surrounded by thick woods. An occasional farm field, deer, the chirping of wild turkeys and the distant mooing of a cow are not uncommon sights and sounds on this course that crosses several rivers.

The easy nature of the course and flexibility of the race — you can register up until the day before — brings in many first-time runners. But, as a Boston qualifier, there are plenty of folks competing for a fast finish, making it a fun and festive mix of elite marathoners, weekend warriors and overzealous walkers enjoying a gorgeous fall afternoon.

While none of these races can compete with the fanfare of Grandma’s or the hype of the Twin Cities Marathon, they do offer an in-depth look at the region — one step at a time.

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